The English Team Earns Ninth Consecutive Victory Over Tough Fijian Side

Quilter Nations Series

England (14) 38

Tries: Cowan-Dickie, Feyi-Waboso, Genge, George, Arundell, Itoje Cons: F Smith 5

Fiji (13) 18

Tries: Ikanivere 2, Muntz Pen: Muntz

England racked up four second-half tries to beat a tough Fijian team in their second fall test match.

The victory lengthens Steve Borthwick's side's winning run to nine matches and follows up their win over the Wallabies the previous weekend.

The home side got on the board first through hooker Cowan-Dickie before Fiji answered back with scores by Ikanivere and Muntz.

Fly-half Muntz failed to convert either try but kicked a penalty goal to take the visitors further ahead before Immanuel Feyi-Waboso scored.

Prop Genge and the Fijian hooker then exchanged tries to begin an thrilling final forty minutes.

Replacements George and Henry Arundell, who showed his scintillating pace, touched down to take the hosts clear.

These tries came either side of Fijian halfback Kuruvoli dropping the ball when going for the tryline.

Skipper Maro Itoje, who also came off the bench, grabbed the last touchdown.

Borthwick's side now meet the All Blacks next Saturday in their toughest test theoretically this fall.

Before this match, the English team had claimed victory in 8 of their 9 games with Fiji – most recently taking 30-24 in the last eight of the 2023 World Cup.

That one defeat came just weeks before the tournament in Europe and was a significant shift under Borthwick.

With the Pacific Islanders on a five-game streak – their joint longest run since 1999 – the fixture was always expected to be hard-fought.

Following smooth attacking phases, number eight Chandler Cunningham-South gained valuable meters before the hooker forced his way over for the opening score from short distance, with Ikanivere's try off the back of a maul adding a quick response.

Known as the Flying Fijians, that was apparent in defence through huge first-half midfield hits, with number fifteen Marcus Smith, used as a additional playmaker, in especial targeted.

But it was the classic Fijian attacking flair that was the highlight in the first forty as passes out of the tackle sliced through the English defense for the fly-half to touch down.

Feyi-Waboso expertly collected a kick across the field by Smith to take England ahead after he had been illegally challenged in the air by Selestino Ravutaumada, who was given a yellow card following a video review.

England pulled away from the Wallabies the previous weekend in the final quarter through the strength of their replacements that included multiple Lions tourists.

A much-changed starting lineup from the victory over the Wallabies did grab the next try as the prop crossed following a strong carry by Ollie Lawrence, who was returning to the national side after suffering his Achilles tendon against Italy in spring.

Nonetheless, after a smart line-out move was finished by the Fijian, the coach introduced five of his bench on the 54th minute – including Lions tourists Henry Pollock and Curry.

With the match still in the balance, Fijian number nine the halfback lost control of the ball when reaching for the goal line to negate substitute George's try.

Breakdown specialist Earl, a try-scorer against Australia, produced a spectacular try-saving tackle to keep breathing room between the teams.

It capped another outstanding overall display by Earl, who received consecutive player-of-the-match awards.

The substitute's speed to chase down a grubber kick demonstrated exactly why England's bench is so influential.

It is packed with stars and quality, which has helped secure victories in the closing stages that were squandered versus Australia and the All Blacks the previous fall.

Considering Scotland pushed the All Blacks hard, Borthwick's side will feel confident of sending a message this weekend.

Should they win, the bench will probably play another key factor.

England: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Dingwall, Feyi-Waboso; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Coles, Chessum, Pepper, Earl, Cunningham-South

Replacements: George, Baxter, Opoku-Fordjour, Itoje, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, Arundell

Fiji: Rayasi; Ravutaumada, Ravouvou, Tuisova, Wainiqolo; Muntz, Kuruvoli; Mawi, Ikanivere, Doge, Nasilasila, Mayanavanua, Sowakula, Canakaivata, Mata

Replacements: Togiatama, Hetet, Tawake, Vocevoce, Murray, Wye, Armstrong-Ravula, Maqala

Sin-bin: Ravutaumada

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Assistant referee: Luc Ramos (France) and Katsuki Furuse (Japan)

Television match official: Mike Adamson (Scotland)